Eastern Qing tombs
Largest and best preserved imperial mausoleum complex in China.
The Eastern Qing tombs are an imperial mausoleum complex of the Qing dynasty, located in Zunhua county of Tangshan in Hebei province, 125 kilometres northeast of Beijing. They are the largest, most complete, and best preserved extant mausoleum complex in China, containing the burials of five emperors, 15 empresses, 136 imperial concubines, three princes, and two princesses.
- location
- Zunhua county, Tangshan, Hebei province, China
- area
- 80 square kilometres
- emperors_buried
- 5
- empresses_buried
- 15
- imperial_concubines_buried
- 136
- princes_buried
- 3
- princesses_buried
- 2
Lore & Background
At the center of the Eastern Qing tombs lies Xiaoling, the tomb of the Shunzhi Emperor, who became the first Qing emperor to rule over China and was the first emperor buried in the area. All imperial mausolea follow a pattern established by Xiaoling, consisting of three sections: spirit way, palaces, and offering kitchens. Xiaoling's spirit way includes a stone archway, dismounting stelae, a grand palace gate, a hall for changing clothes, a divine merit stelae pavilion, stone sculptures, a dragon-and-phoenix gate, and multiple bridges. The palace section contains a spirit way stela pavilion, halls for court officials, Long'en Gate, sacrificial burners, side halls, Long'en Hall, a gate of the burial chamber, a two-pillar gate, stone altar-pieces, a square city, a memorial tower, a glazed screen, a crescent city, a precious citadel, and an earth mound with the underground palace underneath. The offering kitchens were positioned to the left of the palace section.
Reader's Guide
The Eastern Qing tombs represent the culmination of Qing dynasty imperial funerary architecture and are a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The complex includes notable tombs such as Yuling for the Qianlong Emperor, which features the finest tomb chamber with nine vaults separated by four solid marble doors covered in Buddhist imagery, Tibetan scripture, and Sanskrit. Ding Dongling, the tomb of Empress Dowager Cixi, stands out for its lavish decoration using valuable red wood timbers, gold-glazed paintings, gilded dragons, and carved stone rails. The tombs were looted in 1928 by troops under warlord Sun Dianying, and further looting occurred in the 1940s and 1950s, leaving only the tomb of the Shunzhi Emperor untouched. Today, the burial chambers of the Qianlong Emperor, Empress Dowager Cixi, and two of the Qianlong Emperor's concubines are open to the public.
Did You Know?
- The Eastern Qing tombs are located 125 kilometres northeast of Beijing in Zunhua county, Hebei province.
- Five emperors are buried here: Shunzhi, Kangxi, Qianlong, Xianfeng, and Tongzhi.
- The tomb of the Qianlong Emperor, Yuling, has walls and ceilings covered with over 30,000 words of Tibetan scripture and Sanskrit.
- The tomb of the Shunzhi Emperor was the only one left untouched by looting in the 1920s–1950s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Eastern Qing Tombs and where are they located?
They are a vast imperial burial complex from China's Qing dynasty, situated in Zunhua county under Tangshan in Hebei province, roughly 125 km northeast of Beijing. The site serves as the final resting place for multiple generations of Qing royalty.
Who is buried in the Eastern Qing Tombs?
The complex holds the remains of five emperors, fifteen empresses, 136 imperial concubines, three princes, and two princesses. Together these interments make it the most extensive Qing royal burial ground still in existence.
Why are the Eastern Qing Tombs considered so important?
They are recognized as the largest, most complete, and best-preserved imperial mausoleum group surviving anywhere in China. Their intact layout and craftsmanship offer an unmatched record of Qing dynasty funerary architecture and ritual design.
How large is the Eastern Qing Tombs site?
The mausoleum complex stretches across approximately 80 square kilometres of terrain in Hebei province, making it one of the most sprawling imperial burial grounds in the world.
What sets the Eastern Qing Tombs apart from the Western Qing Tombs?
Both complexes served as Qing imperial burial grounds, but the Eastern site is notably larger and better preserved, holding a greater number of royal interments. It stands as the most intact and comprehensive example of Qing mausoleum architecture in the country.
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